Providence Report: Malcolm Subban getting up to speed as a pro

The first-round pick is adjusting to life as a pro and developing as a goalie.

By Dan CagenDaily News staff

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — There was always going to be an adjustment for Malcolm Subban when he turned pro.

The Bruins' first-round pick (No. 24 overall) in the 2012 draft would have to go through the jump to the life of a professional hockey player like the thousands of predecessors before him. And that was an adjustment for the goalie in his first season with the Providence Bruins.

“Early on, his focus was here and there, including in practice,” Providence coach Bruce Cassidy said. “I think he’s become more in-tune with the habits of a good professional, the value of practice and preparing accordingly.”

Subban downplays the difference to the professional ranks.

“There’s not much difference,” said Subban, who played the last three seasons for the Belleville Bulls of the OHL. “You’re just paying for everything yourself.”

On the ice, there's been another progression, one that will go farther in determining how quickly the goaltender can reach the NHL.

Subban became a goaltender at a relatively late age, when he was 12 years old. Like his brothers, Canadiens star P.K. and Canucks prospect Jordan, Malcolm was a defenseman for his early years on the ice before pulling on the goalie pads.

Through his juniors days, he relied heavily on his athleticism and admitted to needing to hone the technique and stability needed of an NHL goaltender. That process has begun in earnest this season with the assistance of goalie coach Bob Essensa.

“Malcolm’s such an athletic kid, he was able to rely on some of that stuff that he had to build the technical stuff into it,” assistant general manager Don Sweeney said. “The consistency I think is the big thing. The depth, the technical elements that the goalie conversations that not as well-versed in. He’s been receptive to it.”

Two areas Subban works on are gap control and depth. He doesn't want to stray from the net as often.

“Just trying to get up to speed first [this season],” Subban said. “Once you get up to speed, then you can get to what you want to work on. You can’t really see what you have to work on until you’re up to speed. I’m just trying to get up to speed of the AHL game.”

Subban, 20, has shared the net with incumbent starter Niklas Svedberg, last season's AHL goalie of the year. The two have shared the net, Svedberg appearing in 40 games and Subban 27. Subban also missed time with a foot injury in December.

Subban made 38 saves Sunday to beat Worcester, 2-1. He moved to 13-8-4 with a .919 save percentage and 2.35 GAA with one shutout. Since the beginning of February, he's gone 6-2-2 with a .916 save percentage.

“His play has really trended up,” Sweeney said. “Butch [Cassidy] feels really comfortable with the two battling and pushing for playing time. All the points are valuable, so you to go in there and feel the pressure. He’s responded well to that. It’s good.”

Shootin' Spoons

Ryan Spooner was returned to the AHL on Jan. 28 after seven weeks with Boston. Although Spooner opened eyes in the NHL with his speed and playmaking ability, one of the critiques was that he didn't look for his own offense enough. Spooner didn't score a goal in 22 games with Boston this season.

Since returning to the AHL as Providence's No. 1 center, Spooner has made an effort to shoot more often. After recording five shots on goal in Sunday's victory at the Dunkin' Donuts Center, Spooner has 24 shots on net in Providence's last five games. The 21-year-old, a second-round pick in 2010, has two goals and four assists in the run. He finished a two-on-one March 14 against Worcester by shooting himself and scored.

“Ever since I can remember, I’ve been a pass-first kind of guy. I had to be a little more selfish,” Spooner said. “That’s what I’ve been trying to do. I think I had seven shots one game, and I think the trend I see is the more shots I can get, the more pucks go in. Which I guess makes sense.”

As has often been the case, Spooner's development in this area was compared by Cassidy to that of Bruins center David Krejci, who's always been a pass-first player but has developed his own offense as well.

Cassidy also had some interesting thoughts on Spooner's use of the '10-2' move that has become something of a trademark for Spooner, who opens up his hips and watches the ice while holding the puck and still moving at a brisk speed. Cassidy was asked if Spooner uses the move too often.

“Yes, at times he does, where he should be attacking,” Cassidy said. “He’s already separated. I know why he does it, he wants to see the whole ice, and it buys him some time. It’s been a habit for his whole career. I think over time he’ll have to learn when to use it and when not to and when to phase it out. I think there’s times where can get through and use his backhand, because there’s times he’s on his off-side when he does it, I shouldn’t say all the time, but a lot of times. Maybe you’re better off getting to the open ice, finishing your odd-man rush, rather than have it on your backhand.

“That’s something that’s part of his game, so you’re got to be careful how you coach it out of him. I think it’s just one of those things that has to evolve and he has to learn on his own when he can and when he can’t to be successful. He’s just going to have to figure that out.” …

Veteran forward Nick Johnson, out since Feb. 5 with an upper-body injury, returned Sunday against Worcester.

Scoring winger Matt Fraser (knee injury) is expected to be out until April, while defenseman Joe Morrow (knee), who's been out since Feb. 4, could return soon. …

Although he went scoreless this weekend, Alexander Khokhlachev has jumped to third among AHL rookies with 50 points in 56 games this season. Khokhlachev has nine goals and 15 assists in 19 games since Feb. 4.

Follow @DanCagen

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